Method of widening on flat knitting machines employing auxiliary yarn



p 22, 2- s. c. BADDERS ETAL METHOD OF WIDENING 0N FLAT KNITTING MACHINESEMPLOYING AUXILIARY YARN Filed April 5,, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet l 3. c.12/700525, c. Ffl/F/PEL 4 p 1942- s.. 6., BADDERS ETAL 2,296,590

MEJITHOD 0F WIDEN ING ON FLAT KNITTING MACHINES EMBLQYING AUXILIARY YARNFiled April 5, 1941 e Sheets Sheet 2 MEI mw rww V- W. ME I will I ENV MnH @U WW I l lw OxmV lV w W W p 1942- s. c. BADDERS ETAL 2,296,590

METHOD OF WIDENING 0N FLAT KNITTING MACHINES EMPLOYING AUXILIARY YARNFiled April 5, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 e cc dll 02 x :r P 6 a Em "Hu ama?1 mH & f L

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Sept..22, 1942. s. c. BADDERS EI'AL 2,296,590

METHOD OF WIDENING ON FLAT KNITTING MACHINES EMPLQYING AUXILIARY YARNFiled April 5, 1941 6 Sheets-Shani a. o. moor/rs, 0., wm9544 P 22, s. c.BADDER; 2,296.590 V ETHOD OF WIDENING ON FLAT KNIT MACHINES EMPLOYINUXILIARY YA Filed ril 5, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 SEEEIWEiECIr-f P 1 i x aace/7005 75,

C-F'HRREL 4 Patented Sept. 22, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Mn'rnonor WIDENING N FLAT KNITTING MACHINES EMPLOYING AUXILIARY YARN StanfordCranston Badders and Charles Farrell, Grenada, Miss, assignors, by mesneassigninents, to National Silk Hosiery Mills, Inc., Indianapolis, Ind.,a corporation of Indiana Appiicatitfin ril 5, 1941, Serial No. 387,084.29 claim (cl. -89) This invention is concerned with the widen- :suchmethod offers over the loop transfer method of widening. .The log calway of making a single unit full fashioned stocking on one machine is towiden the upper portion of the heel in progressive courses by theaddition of edge loops, and thereafter narrow the heel and knit on thefoot in a continuous operation *50 that there ,will be a. continuousselvage edge at the opposite margins of the stocking blank running fromtop to toe such as can be joined: in an uninterrupted seam. It is, ofcourse, a practical prerequisite to-widening by the addition of edgeloops that locked selvage edges be formed, and this has been diflicultto accomp1ish,'especia1ly where two edge loops are to be added at, atime in each widening operation. Proposals have been made for securinglocked selvage edges, but the practical value thereof has beennegligible because they necessitated the use of complicated knittingmachine structures which have not received public acceptance. Morerecent developments, however, have made it possible to widen fabric bythe addition of edge loops on conventonal type flat knitting machineswithout the use of special needle cooperating elements, and as a resultsingle unit stockings with widened heels are now being producedcommercially on hosiery legger type flat knitting machines.

Experience has shown that the recent develfabric courses.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improvedmethod of widening by the addition of edge loops adapted to bettersecure the desired selvage edges along the widened f'abric margins.Through the use of the invention it has been found possible to widenfabric of both Nylon and silk, and formed with the same yarn or yarns insuccessive courses, by two loops at a time with a greater freedom fromdefects than heretofore possible.

According to the invention auxiliary yarns are introduced into thefabric along the widened marginal areas during the course of knittingadditional to the body yarn, and in the 'case of reinforcedfabricqadditional to the body and splicing yarns. A distinctive featureof the improved process is that the auxiliary yarns are fed from idlecarriers which normally stand sta-v tionary at the marginalareas of thefabric instead of reciprocating .with the yarn carriers which lay theiryarns across the needles for the The only time the idle carriers aremoved is, in connection with the widening steps, and at such times theidle yarn carriers are racked outwardlye to lay the auxiliary yarnsoutwardly across the same number of needles as are to be added in awidening operation so that at such points the auxiliary yarns areinterknit inthe fabric.

As hereafter pointed out, the auxiliary yarns may be fed into the fabricalong the outside edge thereof, or may be fed into the fabric in themarginal area but inside the edge.

opments referred to enable selvage edgesto be knit with the same yam insuccessive courses than where a series of yarns are used sequentially inrespective courses under the so-called ffiri less system of knitting,and further that more od of widening fabric by the addition of mar--ginal loops formingthe subject-matter of B. F. Somers Patent No;2,230,986, granted February 4, 1941, which is being used commercially toform widened heel sections in single unit stockings on conventionalhosiery 'legger type flat knitting machines. According to such patentselvage edge shown that defects of this nature in the widened fabric aremore frequent when the fabric is defects are found in the, widenedfabric when v employing Nylon yarn than when employing less resilientand softer silk yarn.-

loops are added to widen the fabric solely through the use of the ordinry knitting instrumentalities (needles, jack a d dividing sinkers,knockover bits and yarn carriers) employed in straight knitting byextending the traverse of the reciprocating yarn carrier or yarncarriers engaged in knitting the fabric while the needles are up incourse-laying position incident to the formation of selected courses,laying the following courses without passing the yarn around the outsideaddedneedle to form loops around jack or divider sinkers inside theouter added needles,

and when the needles are down for a knockover impaling the sinker-formedloops as selvage' loops on the outer added needles. The use of theauxiliary yarns according to the present invention has beenfound toassist in the formation of selvage loops on the added needles under theSomers method either by assisting in the formation 'of and tying in withthe added loops of course-forming yarn on the added marginal needles,or, according to a modified practice of the invention, by forming loopsof the auxiliary yarn on the added needles which aid in the subsequentproduction of locked loopsof courseforming yarn on such needles in theevent defective loops of course-forming yarn were formed thereon at thetimed the widening operation.

In the knitting of reinforced fabric wherein splicing yarns are employedin conjunction with the main yarn in forming the fabric courses,

it is found according to the invention in some cases to be desirable notonly to employ the auxiliary yarns in the marginal widened areas but toterminate the traverse of the main yarn and the splicing yarn atdifferent marginal needles so that the marginal widened area willcomprise loops of either the body yarn or splicing yarn but not both aswill be more fully hereafter explained.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 illustrates a--full fa'shioned stocking blank having widened heelportions in connection with which the present invention is useful;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a section of fabric widened atrecurrent points along the opposite margins and incorporating auxiliaryyarns along the outside edges of the marginal areas according to thepresent invention;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a similar secing to one practice of theinvention;

Fig. 5 illustrates a section of fabric widened in a plurality of coursesat the opposite margins according to the procedure illustrated in Figs.4a to 4i and showing the manner in which the auxiliary yarns areincorporated in the fabric;

Figs. 6a to 6f are diagrammatic views of successive operating stages inthe widening of fabric according to a procedure generally similar tothat shown in Figs. 4a to 4f but wherein the auxiliary yarns aredisposed inwardly of the outside fabric edges according to a furtherpractice of the invention, and illustrating also the formation ofreinforced fabric by the use of main and splicing yarns with only one ofsuch yarns forming the marginal loops;

Fig. fla illustrates the initial step in a further widening operationfollowing the last stage of the widening operation shown in Fig. 6]; and

which are reciprocated by the usual friction bar of the knitting machineis controlled by adjustable stops which are racked out during eachwidening operation so that yarn is laid to additional needles at themargin of the fabric. The idle carriers which feed the auxiliary yarninto the fabric according to the present invention remain idle exceptincident to the formation of widened courses as before mentioned, andare maintained at all times free of engagement with the friction rod soas not to be reciprocated thereby.. Incident to widening, the idle.carriers feeding the auxiliary yarn at the opposite margins of thefabric must be pulled out to a new position to the extent of the samenumber of needles, usually two, by which the width of the fabric is tobe increased. For this purpose it is convenient to employ rebound lockmechanism such as used on machines for ringless knitting. Because suchtype mechanism locks the various yarn carriers of the machine inassociation with Fig. 8 illustrates a section of fabric widened in aplurality of courses at the opposite margins according to the procedureillustrated in Figs. 6a to 6 and 7a, a d showing the manner in which theauxiliar yarns are incorporated in the fabric.

In widening fabric by the addition of edge loops the traverse of theyarn carrier or carriers their end stops intermediate thecompletion ofone course and the laying of the next course, the racking out of suchdevices on the opposite sides of the needle bar can serve not only toadjust the stops for the active carriers forming the fabric courses butalso to pull put the idle carriers laying the auxiliary yarns at themargins of the fabric.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 illusv trates a single unitstocking blank knit on a fiat machine comprising a top 60, leg portionGI, heel portions 62 and 62', foot portion 63 and toe portion 64 knitthroughout as a unit and having continuous selvage edges at its oppositesides running from top to toe. The heel portions in their upper area Ware progressively widened, thereafter a series of straight courses areknit in area Y, following which the lower heel portions are narrowed inarea IN. The blank is preferably of or at positions one or more needlesinwardly of the side edges as both arrangements have been found tominimize the production of defective selvages. Assuming that the fabricis to be wide ened by two needles at. each margin, the idle yarncarriers which feed the auxiliary yarn will always occupy positions overdividing sinkers when the auxiliary yarn is to be introduced into thefabric at the side edge or an even number of needles inwardly of theedge. Where the idle yarn is to beintroduced into the fabric an oddnumber of needles inwardly from the edge the idle carriers which feedthe same will be located in position over jack sinkers and under suchcircumstances either the jack sinkers must be cut down or special formsof idle carriers employed to prevent interference between the carriersand sinkers when the latter are projected during the knitting motion ofthe machine. .When the auxiliary yarns are inset from the edges of thefabric they will preferably occupy positions not more than one or twoneedles inwardly, since it is not likely that they can serve any usefulfunction incident tothe formation of locked loops in the marginal leftare indicated at b and d and 2) areas of the widened fabric portions ifloaded further inwardly.

In Figure 2 is illustrated a section of fabric .IF having an initialwidth w" and. widened in successive areas w, w and at its oppositemargins. It is characteristic of widening by the .addition of loops thatthe widening at the opposite margins occurs in different courses. Forsimplicity in Figure 1 it is assumed that the widening occurs in eachinstance at the left side in a later course than at the right side,although the reverse may be true, and in actual practice it is founddesirable in one'widening operation to widen first at the right and thenat the left, and in the next widening operation to widen first at theleft and then at the right, and so on alternately.

The idle carriers I and 2 feed auxiliary yarns 3 and 4 to the right and,left marginal areas of the fabric. During the knitting of area 10 thecarriers I and 2 will occupy the respective positions I and I so as tofeed the yarns to the fabric along the opposite side edges thereof. Whenthe fabric is widened in area w, carriers I and 2 are moved out topositions 2 and 2 Jwith a consequent interknitting of yarns 3 and 4 withthe added marginal loops of the fabric. When the fabric is againincreased in the next widening operation in area w following theknitting of any selected number of straight courses, carriers I and 2will again move out to needles go down and up again to complete courseIII, the yarn at the right then lying'beneath dividing sinker d butabove jack sinker e, carrier 10 moves to the left to lay course IVforming a 1 loop 1) on dividing sinker d between needles l positions Sand 3 and in the following widening operation when the fabric is againincreased in width in area 10 the carriers 1 and 2 will move out topositions 4 and 4 in which they are represented in Figure 2. It will beunderstood that with each widening operation at each side of the fabricthe idle carrier yarns 3 and 4 will be knit into the marginal areas ofthe fabric.

'In Figure}; is represented a section of widened fabric 2F similar tothat shown in Figure 1, and again having an initial width 11; followedby successive widened areas to, w and 10'. Instead of being located atthe side edges of the fabric the idle carriers I and 2 are locatedinwardly of the side edges of the fabric one or-two needles so that theauxiliary yarns 3 and 4'are inset from the edges. During the knitting ofarea 10, carriers I and 2 will be located in positions I and I and willbe moved out to positions 2 and 2 when the fabric is widened in area w.

, The carriers move out to positions 3 and 3M" incident to the secondwidening in area w, and when the fabric is again increased in width inarea 10 the idle carriers move out to positions 4 .and 4 in which theyare shown.

v The use of the auxiliary yarns according to Figure 2 is illustrated inits application to the method of widening by the addition of selvageloops of Somers Patent No. 2230,986 in Figures 4a to 4f. It is assumedthat the fabric is formed 'with the same yarn in successive courses. and

in this case a single yarn 21 laid by the recip ocating yarn carrier 10.The needles of the machine needle bank engaged in knitting the rightmarginal area of the fabric at the commencement of the widening areshown at a: and o, and the corresponding needles at the left margin ofthe fabric are shown at m and o'. The needles I a d 2 are to be added atthe right and needles I nd 2' at the left in the widening operation. Thedividing sinkers at the right and nd d and the jack sinkers at the rightand eft are respectively indicated at c and e and c and e.

and 2 at the right. Since the left stop of carrier 10 has already movedout yarn 21 is extended across needles? and 2' at the left in course IV,

as shown in Figure 4b. When course IV is sunk and the needles move downfor the knockover, at the right loop 32 is formed on needle I and theloop formed at p is drawn off dividing sinker d and becomes loop 3|, asshown in Figure 40, which, as the needles rise again into courselayingposition, is impaled on the outside added needle 2, as shown in Figure4d. In the corresponding stages the yarn at the left in course IV isplaced beneath dividing sinker (1 intermediate needles I and 2 and inlayingmcourse V from left to right, yarn 21 is formed into a loop ondividing sinker d at q. When the needles descend for the completion ofcourse V, as shown in Figure 4e, loop 32' is formed on needle I and loop3| formed on the divider at q is drawn off to a position adjacent needle2' between the sinkers and knockover bits (not shown) When the needlebank again rises to course-laying position loop 3I is impaled on needle2, as shown in Figure 4f.

At the start of the widening operation idle yarn carriers 3C and 4C,which respectively feed auxiliary yarns 23 and 24 to the fabricaccording to the invention will be located in the dotted line positionsabove dividers d and d at the right and left, as shown in Figure 4a.When the stops for the course-laying yarn carrier 1C are racked out atthe start ofcourse III before the sinkers are projected, idle carrier 4Cis moved out two needles at the left and carrier 30 at the right, withthe result that the auxiliary yam 24 is laid outwardly across needles Iand 2 at theleft and yarn 2i! laid outwardly across needles I and 2 atthe right.

When the needles go down 'for the cast-off of course II and thecompletion of course HI, auxiliary yarn 24 at the left is placed beneathdivider d and in the formation of course IV is interknit with the mainyarn 21 at needle I, as shown in.

in Figure 4}. In the operating stages just. de-

scribed it will be understood that the sequence of steps at the leftmargin of the fabric includes first the racking out of the idleauxiliary yarn carrier 40 incident to the laying of course III, theextension 'of the main yarn 21 at the left in course IV, and thecompletion of the widening at the left with the formation of lockedloops 3| and 32 in course V.

At the right side of the fabric idle'yarn carrier 3C is moved outincident to the laying of course added loops in all instances.

III, and thetraverse of the yarn carrier |C'is also extended in thissame'course to lay yarn 21 across needles I and 2 as will be understoodfrom Figure 4a. During the cast-off of course 111 and the completion ofcourse IV auxiliary yarn 23 becomes interknitted with added loops 3| and32 of the course yarn 21 and serves to aid in the impalement of loop 3|on needle 2, as will bevenient to rack out the active yarn carrier stopsat the right and left simultaneously, and to rack out the right and leftidle carriers at the same illustrated in Figures 6a to 6). In this casethe fabric is knit throughout portions of its width with a plurality ofyarns for purposes of reinforcement such as is desirable in the heelsections of the stocking blank shown in Figure 1. In knitting widenedreinforced fabric it is found desirable in insuring against theformation of defective stitches again toincorporate the auxiliary yarns.As a further feature, it is proposed to terminate the reinforcementinwardly of the side edges. This last can be done when the auxiliaryyarn is fed along the side edges as in the practice of the inventiondescribed in connection with Figures 4a to 4], but will be madesufllciently clear :in connection with the practice of the inventionshown in Figures 6a to 6 where the auxiliary yarns are fed inwardly ofthe edges.

time through the same control mechanism.

There is some reason to believe that the auxiliary yarn functions mosteffectively, at least in its application to the Somers method. ofwidening; Where the auxiliary yarn carrier at one side is moved out inthe course preceding the course which is lengthened at that side, asillustrated in the widening at the left in Figures 4a to 41. Thus, itmay be considered desirable that idle carrier 3 at the right be rackedout during the laying of course I instead of during the laying of courseII.

Figure 5 illustrates the same fabric after further coursesare knit andfurther widenings effected following completion'of the first wideningstage at the right and left shown in Figure 4f. Following the additionof added loops 3| and 32 in the right of course IV and added loops 3|'and 32' at the left in course V, a further widening operation iseffected, this time beginning at the left so that loops 33' and 34 areadded at the left in course VII and loops 33 and 34 atithe right incourse VIII. In the next widening operation, the widening is again begunat the right to add loops 35 and 36 in course X and loops 35' and 36' atthe left in course XI. Through alternating the side at which thewidening operation is commenced, the auxiliary yarns are enabled tofunction to greatest advantage as explained just above in every otherwidening at the respective edges of the fabric where it is foundconvenient from the standpoint of machine operation to rack out theright and left idle carriers which feed the auxiliary yarns in the samecourses.

In Figure 5 in the three widening operations six needles have been addedat th right and six at the left to increase the width of the fabric bytwelve wales, and of course the widening may be continued to any desiredextent to obtain the required width of .the heel sections 62 and 62' inFigure 1. Of course, any selected number 'of straight courses fnay beinterposedbetween the courses in which the edge loops are added. It willbe observed that'the auxiliary yarns 23 and 24 are interknit incident toeach widening'operation, and because their respective carriers 30 and 4Care maintained along the outside edges of the fabric in the progressivestages of knitting, the auxiliary yarns become interknit with the outeraid in the proper locking of the outer added loops .as'previouslyexplained.

Assuming again that the fabric is widened two needles at the right andleft sides, and that the same yarn is knit in successive courses, theauxiliary yarns maybe fed to the marginal areas of the widened fabricinwardly of the side edges, as

*The fabric in Figure Ga is formed not only by yarn 2| fed by carrier1C, but for portions of its courses at the right and left by yarn 2| fedby carrier IC 'and yarn 22 fed by carrier 2C. Instead of stoppingcarriers 10 and i0 at the right at the same needle, one of suchcarriers, in this case the splicing yarn carrier IC, has a stop positionbeyond the other so that the marginal wales, preferably not more thantwo, will comprise, only one of the yarns, whereas the next inward walescomprise doubled loops comprising both such yarns. The same condition iseffected at the left side of the fabric, splicing yarn carrier 20 havingan end position outwardly of the left end position of carrier IC.

In Figure Go straight courses I and 2 have been knit preparatory towidening. During the knitting of such courses splicing carrier IC willstop at a right end position over dividing sinker dand carrier 10 willhave a more inwardly right end stop position over dividing sinker b, and

at the left splicing yarn carrier 20 will have, a left end position overdividing sinker d and carrier 'IC will have a more inwardly left endposition over dividing sinker b.- Stops for splicing yarn carriers ICand 20 at the inner ends of their traverse will be adjusted to positionsdetermined by the width of reinforcement desired in thefabric. It willbe observed that the wales on needles x and 0 at the right are composedsolely of the splicing yarn 2| while the next inner loops are formeddouble of splicing and main yarns 2| and 21. Simila ly at the left thetwo marginal loops on needles 0' and :c are formed solely of splicingyarn 22- whereas the next inner loops are formed double of splicing andyarns 22 and'21.

Following the completion of course II with the needles in up positionthe carrier stops are moved out for the start'of a widening operationpreparatory to laying course III to the right. With the laying of suchcourse as shown in Figure 6a carrier IC lays the yarn 2| acrossadditional needles I and 2 while carrier 1C extends yarn 21 acrossneedles x and 0. Upon the completion of course III course IV is laid tothe left with the formation of a loop of yarn 2| on dividing Theauxiliary yarns sinker d at pointr. When the needles go down to cast offcourse III loop 521s formed on needle I and loop 5| which was formed onthe sinker is placed below the line of s'inkers adjacent needle ,2, andis impaled on needle 2 when the needles shown rise again for the layingof course V as In the laying of course IV to the left, as shown inFigure 6b, carrier 20 lays splicing yam 22 across additional needles Iand 2, while the traverse of carrier 10 is extended to lay yarn 21across needles 1: and Following the completion of course IV and with thelaying of course V, as shown in Figure, yarn 22 is formed into aloop'around dividing sinker d at point s, and when the needles go down loop52' is formed on needle I and the sinker-formed loop becomes loopoccupying a position below the line of sinkers as shown in Figure 6epreparatory to being impaled on needle 2 when the needles rise again asshown in Figure preparatory to the laying of course VI. f At thecompletion of course II prior'to th start of widening, the. idle carrier4C occupies a position over dividing sinker b so as to feed auxiliaryyarn to the marginal fabric areas but inside the marginal loops formedon needles :r," and 0'. At the start of laying course III to the right,the outside stops at the right and left for the splicing and main yarncarriers IC, 2C and 1C are moved out two needles, and simultaneouslytherewith the right and left idle carriers 3C and 4C are moved out twoneedles to respective positions over dividing sinkers d and d asshown inFigure 60.. At the left auxiliary yarn 24 is thus laid outwardly acrossneedles 3: and 0' while yarn 22 is laid inwardly across such two needlesby carrier 20. When the needles go down to cast off course II followingprojection of the sinkers, double loops of the auxiliary yarn 24 andsplicing yarn 22 are formed on needles 1: and 0'. At the right loopscomprising the auxiliary yarn 23, and main and splicing yarns 21 and 2|are formed on needles 0 and :c, as shown in Figure 6b.

By referring to the further widening stages illustrated in Figures 66and (if, and by collaterally referring to Figure 3, it will be observedthat the auxiliary yarns 23 and 24 are not interknit with the addedloops 5|, 52 and 5|, 52', since inthe course of the firstwideningoperation the auxiliary yarns are not fed across the added needles I, 2and I, 2', but only across the oldmarginal needles 1, 0, and x, I 0'.However, at the start of the second widening operation illustrated inFigure 7a the idle carriers are moved out across needles I, 2 and I, 2'and form loops thereon in course VI, as will be understood from Figure8, preparatory to the adding of loops 54 and 53' on needles 3 and 4 atthe left and the adding of loops 54 and 53 on needles 3 and 4 in courseVHI at the right. Hence, even though the machine has failed to add loopsof splicing yarns 22 and 2| respectively in courses IV and V, theformation of loops of auxiliary yarn 24 on needles I and 2' at the left,and of auxiliary yarn 23 on needles I and 2 at the right, willfacilitate the delayed addition of locked loops of the splicing, yarnson these needles.

Figure 8 shows the section of fabric in a further operating stage afterthe completion of.

three widening operations. 'As in the case of Figure 5 1n the firstwidening operation loops are added at the right and then at the left,and

the second operation first at the left and then at the right, and in thethird widening operation first at the right and then at the left, whichalternate procedure is preferably carried on throughout the entirewidened area of the fabric for reasons previously explained. At the leftit will be observed that the auxiliary yarn 24 is knit in courses III,VI and .IX, and that the loops of splicing yarn. 22 are added in coursesV, VII and left, and loops of splicing yam 2| are added at the right incourses IV, VIII and IX.

The margin loops of the fabric in which the auxiliary yarns enter at theright and the left in course III are respectively indicated at 4|, 42,and 4|, 42' in Figures 60 to 6f, 70. and 8. These are formed on themarginal needles 0, :c, and :r', 0', rather than on the added needles.However, the

auxiliary yarns enter into loops 4;, 44 at the right and 43', 44' at theleft of course VI on the needles I, 2, and I, 2' over which thecourse-forming yarns, here splicing yarns 2| and 22, were extended inthe first widening operation at the opposite sides. The loops in whichthe auxiliary yamsenterin the third widening operation at the right andleft of course'lX are indicated at 45, 46 and 48', respectively, thesebein formed on needles 3, 4 and 3', 4' over which the I course-formingyarns were extended in the secwidening.

It has been found in practice that improved selvages are obtained inwidened fabric with the assistance of the auxiliary yarns both when suchyarns are fed at the edge of the fabric and when fed inwardly of thefabric edge according to the several procedures herein described. Itwill be obvious, of course, that the practices of the invention hereindescribed and shown are merely illustrative and that the inventiveprocess may be carried out in a variety of ways within the scope of theappended claims, with reference to the position of the auxiliaryyarn'relative to the fabric margin in any case, and with reference tothe positions of the auxiliary yarn, body yarn and splicing yarn relaive to each other and to the fabric margin in the case of reinforcedfabric, and depending on whether the adding of loops to widen the fabriccourses is carriedout according to the Somers method or some other .pro-

' cedure.

The invention will be understood to have particular utility in formingwidened heel sections in single unit stockings, but of course can beused for other purposes.

' We claim: g

1. The method of adding selvage loops to widen fabricon a flat knittingmachine which includes increasing the traverse ofthe reciprocatingcourse-forming yarn carrier or carriers in selected fabric coursesacross additional needles beyond the edge of the. fabric marginal areafor the formation of loops on said additional needles, feeding anauxiliary yarn to the fabric marginal area lengthwise of said edge froma stationary yarn carrier positioned near said additional needles, andshifting the position of the auxiliary yarn carrier outwardlyacorresponding number of needles for each widening.

2. The method ofadding selvage loops to widen fabric on a flat knittingmachine which includes XI. At the right the auxiliary yarn 23 is knitinto the same courses as auxiliary yarn 24 at the increasing thetraverse of the reciprocating course-forming yarn carrier or carriers inselected fabric courses across additional'needles beyond the edge of thefabric marginal area for the--formation of loops on said additionalneedles, feeding an auxiliary yarn to the fabric marginal arealengthwise of said edge from stationary yarn carrier positioned nearsaid additional needles, and shifting the position of the auxiliary yarncarrier outwardly a corresponding number of needles for each wideningduring .formation of a course contiguous the course in which thereciprocating yarn carrier traverse is increased at said edge.

3. The method of adding selvage loops to widen fabric on a flat knittingmachine which includes increasing the traverse of the reciprocatingcourse-forming yarn carrier or carriers in selected fabric coursesacross additional needles beyond the edge of the fabric marginal areafor the formation of loops on said additional needles, feeding anauxiliary yarn to the fabric marginal area lengthwise of said edge froma stationary yarn carrier positioned near said additional nee-' dies,and shifting the position of the auxiliary yarn carrier outwardly acorresponding. number of needles for each widening during formation ofthe course next preceding the course in which the reciprocating yarn'carrier traverse is increased at said edge.

4. The method of adding selvage loops to widen fabric on a flat knittingmachine which includes increasing the traverse of the reciprocatingcourse-forming yarn carrier or carriers in selected fabric coursesacross additional needles beyond the edge of the fabric marginal areafor the formation of loops on said additional needles, feeding anauxiliary yarn to the fabric marginal area lengthwise of said edge froma stationary yarn carrier positioned near said additional needles, andshifting the position of the auxiliary yarn carrier outwardly acorresponding number of needles for each widening 'during formation ofthe same course in which the reciprocating yarn carrier traverse isincreased at said edge.v

5. The method of adding selvage loops to widen fabric on a flat knittingmachine which includes increasing the traverse of the reciprocatingcourse-forming yarn carrier or carriers in selected fabric coursesacross additional needles sponding number of needles for each wideningduring formation of the same course in which the reciprocating yarncarrier traverse is increased at said edge.

' 8. The method of adding selvage loops to widen the position of theauxiliary yarn carrier outwardly a corresponding number of needles foreach widening.

9. The method of adding selvage loops to widen fabric on a fiat knittingmachine which includes increasing the traverse of the reciprocatingcourse-forming yarn carrier or carriers in selected fabric coursesacross additional needles beyond the edge of the fabric marginal areafor the formation of loops on said additional needles, feeding anauxiliary yarn to the fabric from a stationary yarn carrier positionedin the marginal area inwardly of said edge, and shifting the' positionof the auxiliary yarn carrier outwardly a corresponding number ofneedles for each widening during formation of a course contiguous thecourse in which the reciprocating yarn carrier traverse is increased atsaid edge.

10. The method of adding selvage loops to widen fabric on a flatknitting-machine which includes increasing the traverse of thereciprocating course-forming yarn carrier or carriers in selected fabriccourses across additional needles beyond the edge of the fabric marginalarea for the formation of loops on said additional needles, feeding anauxiliary yarn to the fabric widen fabric on a flat knitting machinewhich 6. The method of adding selvage loops to widen fabric on a flatknitting machine which includes increasing the traverse of thereciprocating course-forming.yarn carrier or carriers 'in selectedfabric courses across additional needles beyond the edge of the fabricmarginal area for the formation of loops on said additional needles,feeding an auxiliary yarn to the fabric from a includes increasing thetraverse of the reciprocating course-forming yarn carrier or carriers inselected fabric courses across additional neestationary yam carrierpositionedat said edgea of the marginal area, and shifting the positionof the auxiliary yarn carrier outwardly for each widening duringformation of the course preceding the course in which the reciprocatingyarn carrier traverse is increased at said edge.

7. The method of adding selvage loops to widen fabric on a flat knittingmachine which includes increasing the traverse of the reciprocatingcourse-forming yarn carrieror carriers in selected fabric coursesacross'additional needles beyond the edge of the fabric marginal areafor the formation of loops on said additional needles,

feeding an auxiliary yam to the fabric from a stationary yarn carrierpositioned at said edge of the marginal-area, and shifting the'positionof the auxiliary yarn carrier outwardly a corredles beyond the edge ofthe fabric marginal area for th'e'formation of loops on said additionalneedles, feeding an auxiliary yarn to the fabric from a stationary yarncarrier positioned in the marginal area inwardly of said edge, andshifting the position of the auxiliary yarn carrier outwardly acorresponding number of needles for each widening during the formationof the same course in which the reciprocating yarn carrier traverse isincreased at said edge.

12. The method of adding selvage loops to widen fabric on a flatknitting machine which includes increasing the traverse of thereciprocating course-forming yarn carrier or carriers in selected fabriccourses across additional needles beyond the edge of the fabric marginalarea for the formation of loops on said additional needles, feeding anauxiliary yarn from a stationary-yam carrier to, thefabric marginal arealengthwise of said edge, and shifting the position of the auxiliary yarncarrier outwardly to lay the auxiliary yarn across the beard side of thesame additional needles for each widening at said edge.

13. The method .of adding selvage loops to widen fabric on a flatknitting machine which in-v cludes increasing the traverse of thereciprocating course-forming yarn carrier or carriers in selected fabriccourses across additional needles beyond the edge of the fabric marginalarea for the formation of loops on said additional needles, feeding anauxiliary yarn to the fabric from a stationary yarn carrier positionedat said edge of the fabric marginal area, and shifting the position ofthe auxiliary yarn carrier outwardly to lay the auxiliary yarn acrossthe beard side of the same additional needlesfor each widening at saidedge.

14. The method of adding sewage loops to widen fabric on a flat knittingmachine which includes increasing the traverse of the reciprocatingcourse-forming yarn carrier or carriers in selected fabric coursesacross additional needles beyond the edge of the fabric marginal areafor the formation of loops on said additional needles,

feeding an auxiliary yarn to the fabric from a stationary'yam carrierpositioned in the marginal area inwardly of said edge, and shifting theposition of the auxiliary yarn carrier outwardly to lay the auxiliaryyarn across the beard side of e the same additional needles in a coursesubsequent to the course in which the reciproeating yarn carriertraverse is increased across said additional needles'at said edge.

15. The method of add ng selvage loops to widen fabric on a flatknitting machine which includes increasing the traverse of thereciprocating course-forming yarn carrier or carriers in 18. The methodof adding selvage loops to widen fabric at both sides on a flat knittingmachine which includes increasing the traverse of the reciprocatingcourse-laying yarn carrier or carriers in selected fabric courses acrossaddi-' ginal areas over which the reciprocating yarn carrier traverse isincreased.

19; The method of adding selvage loops to widen fabric at both sides ona flat knitting machine which includes increasing the traverse of thereciprocating course-laying yarn carrier or carriers in selected fabriccourses across additional needles beyond one fabric marginal area,

' and in the next courses across additional needles beyond the oppositefabric marginal area, for

" the formation of loops on the additional needles,

' side of the same additional needles at the opposite selected fabriccourses across two additional needies beyond the edge of the fabricmarginal area for the formation of loops on said additional needles,feeding an auxiliary yarn from a stationary yarn carrier to the fabricmarginal area lengthwise of said edge, and shifting the position of theauxiliary yarn carrier outwardly two needles for each widening at saidedge. a

16. The method of adding selvage loops to widen fabric on a fiatknitting machine which includes increasing the traverse of thereciprocating course-forming yarn carrier or carriers in selected fabriccourses across two additional needles beyond the edge of the fabricmarginal area for the formation of loops on said additional needles,feeding an auxiliary yarn to the fabric from a stationary yarn carrierpositioned at the edge of the fabric marginal area, and shifting theposition of the auxiliary yarn carrier outwardly two needles to lay theauxiliary yarn across the beard side of the-same additional needlesforeach widening at said edge. I

17. The method of adding selvage loops to widen fabric on a flatknitting machine which includes increasing the traverse of thereciprocating course-forming yarn carrier or carriers in selected fabriccours'es across two additional neeing the position of the auxiliary yarncarrier outwardly two needles to lay the auxiliary yarn across the beardside of the same two additional needles in a course subsequent tothecourse in which the reciprocating yarn carrier traverse is increasedacrossasaid two additional needles at said edge.

marginal areas over which the reciprocating yarn carrier traverse isincreased but subsequent to the courses in whic the course-forming yarnis extended across said additional needles at the opposite marginalareas. a

20. The method of adding selvage loops to widen fabric on a flatknitting machine as in claim 18, wherein the-positions of the respectiveauxiliary yarn carriers at the opposite marginal areas are shiftedsimultaneously in a common course; i I

,21. The method of adding selvage loops widen fabric-on a flat knittingmachine as in which the reciprocating yarn carrier traverse isvincreased across the additional needles at the opposite edges.

dles beyondthe edge of the fabric marginal area 22. The method of addingselvage loops to widen fabric on a flat knitting machine which includesfeeding an auxiliary yarn to the fabric from a stationary yarn carrierpositioned at the fabric marginal area during formation of the fabriccourses of yarn laid ,by one or more reciprocating yarn carriers,increasing the reciprocating yarn carrier traverse periodically inselected courses, laid in the direction of said marginal area, while theneedle bar is up in course-laying position to extend thecourse-forming'yarn across the beard side of two additional.

needles beyond said marginal area, and with the course-forming yarnstill on the beard side of 'the two additional needles after the needlebar goes down to knockover and back up laying a second course in the.opposite direction across the needle bar and forming the second courseinto knitted loops when the needle bar again goes down to knockover'andback up, and for each widening operation at said marginal area shiftingthe position of the auxiliary yarn carrier out- 'wardly'whiletheneedlefbar is up in courselaying position to lay the auxiliary yarnacross the beard side of two needles at the marginal area.

23. The method of adding selvage loops to widen fabric on a flatknitting machine wherein successive fabric courses are formed of thesame yarn laid by one or more reciprocating yarn carriers, whichincludes feeding an auxiliary yarn to the fabric from a stationary yarncarrier positioned at the fabric marginal area during formation of thefabric courses, increasing the reciprocating yarn carrier traverseperiodically in selected courses, laid in the direction of said marginalarea, while the needle bar is up in course-laying position to extend thecourse-forming yarn across the beard side'of two additionalneedlesbeyond said marginal area, and with the course-forming yarn stillon the beard side of the two additional needles after the needle bar'goes down to knockover and back up laying a second course in theopposite direction across the needle bar and forming the second courseinto knitted loops when the needle bar again 'goes down to knockover andback up, and for each wideningoperation at said marginal area shiftingthe position of the auxiliary yarn carrier outwardly while the needlebar is up in courselaying position to lay the auxiliary yarn acrosscarriers, which includes feeding an auxiliary yarn along the outside ofthe edge needle of the marginal area from a stationary yam carrierduring formation of the fabric courses, increasing the beard side of thetwo edge needles of the mar-, ginal area, and in a course subsequent tothe course in which the course-forming yarn is extended across the twoadditionalneedles beyond the marginal needles again shifting theposition of the auxiliary yarn carrier outwardly two needles while theneedle bar is up in coursereciprocating yarn carrier traverseperiodically in 7 course-laying position to extend the course-form- Iing yarn across the beard side of two additional needles beyond saidmarginal area, and with the course-forming yarn still on the beard sideof-the two additional needles after-the needle bargoes down to knockoverand back up laying a second course in the opposite direction across theneedle bar and forming thesecond course into knitted loops when theneedle bar again goes down to knockover and back up, and for eachwidening operation at said marginal area shifting the position of theauxiliary yam carrier outwardly two needles while the needle bar is upin course-laying position to lay the auxiliary yarn across the beardside' of the same two additional needles to which the course-formingyarn is extended.

25. The method of adding selvage"loops to widen fabric on a flatknitting machine wherein successive fabric courses are formed of thesame yarn laid by one or more reciprocating yarn carriers, whichincludes feeding an auxiliary yarn to the fabric marginal area inwardlyof the two edge needles of the marginal area from a stationary yarncarrier during formation of the fabric courses, increasing thereciprocating yarn carrier traverse periodically in selected courses,laid in the direction of said marginal area, while the needle bar is upin course-laying position to extend the course-forming yarn across thebeard side of two additional needles beyond said marginal area, and withthe course-forming yarn still onthe beard side of the twoadditionallaying position to lay the auxiliary yarn across the beardside of the said two additional needles across which the course-formingyarn is extended.

26. The method of adding selvage loops to side of additional needlesbeyond the first marginal area, shifting the positions of the auxiliaryyarn carriers at both marginal areas outwardly during extension of saidfirst course to place the auxiliary yarns across the beard side of acorresponding number'of needles at both marginal areas, increasing thereciprocating yarn carrier traverse in the following second course, laidin the direction of the second marginal area, while the needles are upin course-laying position to extend the course-forming yarn across thebeard side of additional needles beyond the second marginal area,forming a third course, laid in the direction of the first marginalarea, across the additional needles beyond both marginal areas,eifecting a second widening atthe opposite sides of the fabric byincreasing the reciprocating yarn carrier traverse first in a coursesubsequent to the second course, laid in the di-. rection of the secondmarginal area, while the needles are up in course-laying position toextend the course-forming yarn across the beard side of furtheradditional needles beyond the second marginal area, shifting thepositions of the auxiliary yarn carriers atboth marginal areas outwardlyduring extension of said subsequent course-at tfiesecond'marginar-areato "place the auxiliary yarns across the beard side of a corcarriertraverse in the next course following said subsequent course, laid inthe direction of the first marginal area, while the needles are up incourse-laying position to extend the course-forming yarn across thebeard side of further additional needles beyond the first marginal area,and after forming said last-mentioned course extended at the firstmarginal area forming another course, laid in the direction of thesecond marginal area, across the further additional needles beyond bothmarginal areas.

27. The method of adding selvage edges to widen reinforced fabric on aflat hitting mayarns during formation of the fabric courses,

chine wherein the fabric courses are formed of a body yarn and asplicing yarn laid by separate reciprocating yarn carriers, whichincludes adjusting the traverse of the respective reciprocating yarncarriers feeding the body yarn and the splicing yarn so that in thefabric marginal area one of said carriers feeds its yam to outermarginal needles not fed by the other'carrier for the formation on saidmarginal needles in the fabric courses of loops composed of only one ofsaid yarns, feeding auxiliary yarn at the edge of the marginal areaoutside said outer marginal needles from a stationary yarn carrierduring formation of the fabric courses, periodically increasing thetraverse of the course-laying yarn carriers in selected courses andextending the yarn feeding said outer marginal needles across additionalneedles beyond said outer marginal needles for the formation of loopsthereon, and for 'each widening at said marginal area shifting theauxiliary yarn carrier outwardly to extend the auxiliary yarn acrosssaid additional needles.

28. The method of adding 'selvage edges to widen reinforced fabric on afiat knitting machine wherein the fabric courses are formed of a bodyyarn and asplicing yarn laid by separate reciprocating yarn carriers,which includes adjusting the traverse of the respective reciprocatingyarn carriers feeding the body yarn and the splicing yarn so that in thefabric marginal area one of said carriers feeds its yarn to outermarginal needles not fed by the other carrier for the formation on saidmarginal needles in the fabric courses of loops composed of only one ofsaid'yarns, feeding auxiliary yarn from a stationary yarn carrier to themarginal area in- 'wardly of at'least some of said outer marginalneedles fed by onm one of said course-forming periodically increasingthe traverse of the courseforming yarn carriers and extending the yarnfeeding said outer marginal needles across additional needles beyondsaid outer marginal needles for the formation ofv loops thereon, and foreach'widening at said marginal area shifting. the auxiliary yarn carrieroutwardly to extend the auxiliary yarn across said outer marginalneedles, and shifting the auxiliary yarn carrier outwardly in asubsequent widening to extend the auxiliary yarn across the additionalneedles beyondthe outer marginal needles to which the one course-formingyarn is extended in the preceding widening.

29. The method of producing selvage-edged widened heel sections at theopposite sides of a stocking blank knit as a single unit on a flatknitting machine of the full-fashioned hosiery legger type through theaddition of selvage loops at the opposite marginal areas of the blank,and wherein successive heel courses are formed of yarn laid by the samereciprocating yarn carriers, which includes feeding auxiliary yarns tothe opposite marginal areas .of the blank during formation of the heelcourses, periodically widening the blank by increasing the reciprocatingyarn carrier traverse in selected heel courses at the respective sidesof the blank to extend the course-forming yarn across additional needlesbeyond the marginal areas of the heel sections for the formation ofloops thereon, and for each widening at the respective sides shiftingthe auxiliary yarn carriers feeding to the marginal areas of theopposite hel sections outwardly a corresponding number of needles.

STANFORD C. BADDERS. CHARLES FARRELL.

